Scorpio - the sign of transformation

After the balancing act of Libra, we have passionate and intense Scorpio. Although Scorpio is the second water sign, I think it has a fair bit of fire in it too. In modern times Scorpio is ruled the Pluto, but before Pluto was discovered it was ruled by Mars (also ruler of the fiery Aries). So, what of these rulers? Mars is the god of war, so signs ruled by Mars will have a warrior like quality. In the case of Scorpio, as it is a water sign, this will be a lot of emotionally charged than Aries. Scorpios feel their emotions very strongly, and if you hurt a Scorpio you will know about it. There is a sting in the Scorpion's tail. Pluto, having been discovered in the 1930s, had power attributed to it. This can be the dominant and destructive force that we saw with the rise of fascism, or the deeper inwardly transformational power of psychoanalysis that was also gaining recognition at the time of Pluto's discovery. Scorpio is a powerful sign, and this power can be used for good or ill.

The Scorpio house in the zodiac is the eighth house. Of course, in an individual chart, it may be a different sign to Scorpio on the cusp, however the essence of the house is still Scorpio. I always find the eighth house quite a complex one. On the most mundane level it represents other people's money (as it sits opposite the second house, which represents one's own money and follows the seventh house which represents the other) so inheritance, debts and taxes. On a deeper level the eighth house is considered to be the house of birth, death and rebirth. With that in mind Scorpio is the sex sign of the zodiac. Passion and good sex tend to go together. At the other end of life, death is where we transform, back into the earth and spirit. The eighth house has also rather charmingly been assigned the function of the bathroom of the zodiac where we eliminate what we no longer need. Bathrooms are also private places and in keeping with this Scorpios can be pretty private people. Although they feel strongly about their passions, they do not wear their hearts on their sleeves and will be very considerate of who they share with.

Scorpio Suns (the extent of this will depend on other planets in the chart) are at their core passionate about their cause with a great desire to follow it to the full. There are no emotional half measures here. But they can also be very private people with a lot going on beneath the surface.

Taking a look at the personal planets (those closest to the Earth), Mars and Venus are the most affected by Scorpio. Starting with Venus the planet of love, one would think that it would work well in Scorpio, but it is in fall here. It rules the opposite sign, Taurus, so there is a conflict of energies here. Venus looks for harmony and beauty. As well as representing relationships, it also represents possessions and more broadly values. With the emotional energy of Scorpio and the possessions aspect to Venus, Venus in Scorpio struggles with jealousy, which can be a destructive force in a relationship. The secretive side of Scorpio can also be difficult for relationships, which require a level of sharing. With Venus in Scorpio there is a need to balance opposites. Destructive emotions can be calmed by finding ways of grounding, and Taurus, the opposite of Scorpio is about the earth. Nature is also represented by Taurus, and I personally find spending time with nature very restorative and healing. There is an equanimity about nature, which can cool and calm.

Mars on the other hand works well in Scorpio. This is pure energy, unbridled passion. With Mars in Scorpio, the individual will put their heart and soul into whatever their passion is. There will be no half measures, or that will do. There will be a lot of sexual energy, but without the jealousy that can beset Venus in Scorpio. Mars is driven, and in Scorpio whatever the project is, there will be a huge emotional investment.

It is always worth remembering that an individual is not just one planetary placement. Often there are conflicting or mitigating factors in a chart, and not to forget free will.

For all of us, as the Sun moves into and through Scorpio, it is a good time to clean the emotional closet. Are there things we could let go of? Are there hidden fears holding us back that we could address? Are we truly passionate about what we are doing?

In the Scorpio month we are well into autumn, which is all about releasing and letting go, as the trees shed their leaves in preparation for winter (in the Northern hemisphere) so too can we shed what no longer serves us.